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GameDev: Arena

Kevin Hawkins · 2004-02-04T09:24:37

Our next contest is quickly approaching its start date, but before we actually kick this one off, we're going to let you review the rules and give us feedback in case there is anything we may have missed or needs to be explained in better detail. The next contest is called "GameDev: Arena". The idea will be to develop a bot AI to fight in deathmatch battles against other bots. The last bot standing at the end of the double elimination tournament is the winner. Bots will be programmed in C++ using a predefined bot template provided to you by GameDev.net through a "bot generator". Bots are compiled as DLL's, which are loaded and executed by the GameDev: Arena core executable. The interface specifics will be available at the start of the contest. Please note that we anticipate this to be a difficult contest. Entrants will probably not be able to program their bot AI using "traditional" AI techniques. Please review the rules at http://www.gamedev.net/community/contest/gdarena/ and post any feedback you have here. Do not email us. We will not reply to any emails about the contest. Kevin "Khawk" Hawkins CEO and News Director, GameDev.netSoftware Engineer, Raydon CorporationAuthor, OpenGL Game Programming Contributing author, Game Development: Tricks of the Trade , "Using the UML in Game Development" Developer Diary

GameDev: Arena Contests

Started by khawk July 06, 2003 03:39 PM

538 comments, last by khawk 20 years, 5 months ago

khawk

3,752

Author

July 06, 2003 06:58 PM

quote: Original post by Mihail121
As i can see it appears that the contest will start a lot l8r than 1st of August cause there are pretty much things to do.Ah heck i just hope it''ll starts .I don''t think that changing the map environment dynamicaly will be a good idea.Althought there is sence is doing stuff like moving platforms,fans,grinders and such.What will be the bot actually is a question that consirnes me.I suggest that the bot will just be a struct with name,2 ints for position,heading parameters and some other little stuff.Also is their a movement techiniqe you require or will we be free to choose our own(besides the waypoints there is also ray-casting and such).Well hope it will be fun.Nice idea about that taunting.But 20 chars are a not much.I suggest 64 that will be much better.10x for reading!

The app is already done.

The only thing left is further testing and documentation so everyone knows how to program their bots. The reason I limited it to 20 is because the text actually appears above the bot, and anything more than 20 clutters the view.

You''ll see how everything works.

There will be some issues I''m sure, but I don''t anticipate anything very serious. Like I said, it''s going to be a tough one, but it should be fun. The bots are very programmable and you can literally do anything you want with them in terms of strategy and tactics. It''s just a matter of coming up with the algorithms to do what you want within the constraints of the API and arena.

Admin for GameDev.net.

khawk

3,752

Author

July 06, 2003 07:00 PM

quote: Original post by BlueChip
Yep.. that is a wonderful idea.
Is it as TERRARUIM (by Microsoft)?

I enjoyed myself for many time with my silly creature...

It''s a similar concept, yes.

Admin for GameDev.net.

khawk

3,752

Author

July 06, 2003 07:02 PM

quote: Original post by kieren_j
Just to warn you -- better make sure the engine will run on 99% of systems -- at least with a compatibility mode.
Few weeks ago I, along with thousands of others, downloaded the BBC''s year-in-development FightBox game, only to find it sprinkled with bugs.
It seems unfair that if it doesn''t work on some systems, others might get more time in development.....

-K

Yes, I''m very aware of that, and I''m hoping it will be compatible with most, if not all systems. There will also be a standard way to submit defects and problems. I''m aware of some random defects occurring on certain systems, but it''s very random and only affects testing (sometimes it crashes). It certainly doesn''t prevent the bot from being developed. I haven''t had any problems on any of the systems I have personally tested on (10 different ones).

Admin for GameDev.net.

TechnoGoth

2,939

July 06, 2003 07:03 PM

I think it would add an extra level of strategy if the bots could only carry two weapons and you have decied which ones from a list of possibles in your source code. Instead of giving every bot all 10 weapons to use.

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khawk

3,752

Author

July 06, 2003 07:04 PM

quote: Original post by Voice Of Tango
quote: Original post by Khawk
quote: Original post by MindWipe
Will the bot''s be able to say stuff (or send out messages).

Like when DrunkBot has annihilated someone he could go: I''ll have a drink to that!
Yes. For fun, the bots can taunt (limited to 20 characters). It turns out that it''s a pretty good debugging tool as well.
What about expletives? For instance, would TangoBot be allowed to say "Bitch mutha fucka!!!" (exactly fits the 20 character limit) when a direct hit to his person interrupts his wild Tango across the arena?

Heh, there are no filters.

In the final exe that will be used for the tournament, I hope to have some sort of movie format output so everyone can view the results of the battles. That will really make the taunts worthwhile.

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masonium

118

July 06, 2003 07:04 PM

Sounds fun, I''m probably gonna join.
*flips 4E the bird*

Check out my raytracer at http://simp-raytracer.sourceforge.net. Download it at http://www.sourceforge.net/projects/simp-raytracer.

Check out my raytracer at http://simp-raytracer.sourceforge.net. Download it at http://www.sourceforge.net/projects/simp-raytracer.

khawk

3,752

Author

July 06, 2003 07:05 PM

quote: Original post by liquidAir
Wow! Sounds interesting. I''m basically new to this. I just feel like trying it out, Artificial Intelligence.

Well, just a suggestion, I don''t really know anything bout this, but could there be hand-to-hand combat. Like say both bots run out of ammunition (quite unlikely) but I think it''s possible or one of the bots is a die-hard or something.

And might there be any more info for beginners?

Nothing is Impossible

That is worth considering, although I tried to make it so it''s difficult for both bots to run out of ammunition. If it turns out to be an issue, then I''ll definitely do something about it.

Admin for GameDev.net.

khawk

3,752

Author

July 06, 2003 07:07 PM

quote: Original post by TechnoGoth
I think it would add an extra level of strategy if the bots could only carry two weapons and you have decied which ones from a list of possibles in your source code. Instead of giving every bot all 10 weapons to use.

The bots don't have 10 weapons.

I haven't said how many they have - right now there's a fixed amount, but I like the idea of future contests having more weapons with a selection at intialization. There are restrictions on the weapons they have as well: firing rates and gun switching rates, not to mention other variables in firing weapons that will certainly make it difficult.. so there is certainly some strategy in weapon firing.

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blueEbola

464

July 06, 2003 07:11 PM

Wow, this contest is going to kick some serious ass! I can''t wait to get started on EbolaBot

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liquidAir

314

July 06, 2003 07:13 PM

quote:
Judging
- In the event an odd nmber of entries is received, one bot will receive a bye in the first round. The bot will be chosen automatically as being the final bot remaining when pairins are drawn.

I don''t really understand this. Explain in simple terms. What''s a bye?

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